Huge mangroves

[Joshua]

I have some extra room to the side of my tank and an extra 36x30 acrylic tank sitting in the garage and I was thinking of placing this tank external to my main tank and plumbing it in with a common sump. Doing that would place this tank to the left of my main tank out in the open which allows for tons of room for huge mangroves. Now for the questions, would the trees really be able to get that big above the water level or will they want to grow mostly huge roots that will run out of room in the tank? Should I build a tall/skinny acrylic tank to allow for more root room? What kind of lighting would this require? I could actually move the entire system over so that this mangrove tank sits next to a window that gets direct evening sunlight but then I'd lose the closet directly behind my tank for a frag tank. Can you even buy large mangrove trees or would I have to grow them out? If growing them out how long would it take to go from a pod to a good sized tree? What are the winning lotto numbers for this Saturday and will the Cowboys make the playoffs? As you can see I know nothing of mangroves, or winning lotto numbers.

[cpreefguy]

Now for the questions, would the trees really be able to get that big above the water level or will they want to grow mostly huge roots that will run out of room in the tank?

Depends on how you mount them. If you suspend them in the water, they will grow a different root than if you put them in a substrate. If you suspend them, they will grow the typical coast line like root system withh roots projecting out of the mangrove.
If you put them in substrate, they will grow filamentous roots in the substrate. Either way, given time and enough room above the tank, they will grow tall.

Should I build a tall/skinny acrylic tank to allow for more root room?

You can, but I dont really think it will matter much.

What kind of lighting would this require?

Mangroves can grow under many lighting types. Halides, fluorescents, sunlight, etc... As long as they are getting enough hours of lighting.

I could actually move the entire system over so that this mangrove tank sits next to a window that gets direct evening sunlight but then I'd lose the closet directly behind my tank for a frag tank.

I think this will be best. Sunlight will be better for them, plus it will be less of a cost for you.

Can you even buy large mangrove trees or would I have to grow them out?

I lucked out and bought some pretty tall ones that had been grown from pods. They are slow growing so expect to wait a year or two for them to become big if growing them out. You can find larger ones for sale online, but be sure to ask how they were grown, fresh water, salt water, soil...
If you find some that were grown in fresh water or soil, it can be pretty tricky to acclimate them to salt water.

If growing them out how long would it take to go from a pod to a good sized tree?

A good while, probably a year or two.

[cpreefguy]

A few good reads:

http://www.toptropicals.com/html/aqu...ngrove_eng.htm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...02/feature.htm

http://www.peteducation.com/article....+2159&aid=3133

[brewercm]

What are the winning lotto numbers for this Saturday and will the Cowboys make the playoffs? As you can see I know nothing of mangroves, or winning lotto numbers.

24,45,15,53,12,and the powerball is ..............44

Oh and the cowboys will make it and loose in the second round.

[Joshua]

Thanks dudes, especially for the winning lotto numbers Cliff!

I think I'm going to get about 50 of them and fill up my overflow and an empty area in my sump, when they begin to get decent sized I'll make a nice shallow tank, plumb it in with the main tank's sump, and put it on a stand next to the main tank with some sort of substrate and float them so that their roots can grow into the substrate and leave a nice underwater forest of mangrove roots. I dunno what other stuff I can put in there but I imagine it can be a pretty cool little environment to stare at.

[caferacermike]

ReefCleaners.org has about the best price I think I've ever seen and the best availability. Not to mention if search for a dealo discount, you may find them almost half the listed price. John is great and ships quick. At the same time take advantage of the great snail and hermit prices. You might want to buy half as pods and half as seeds as you'll save even more $$.

[Joshua]

I got a buddy on the coast says he can get me mangroves... yall know if those are good for tanks and what types they are?